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An Education Rich in Music
According to the Kaufman research center, "the value of incorporating music into a child's education cannot be understated. There is a heap of incontestable research showing that an education rich in music improves students' cognitive function and academic performance. Simply put, children learn better when music is part of their school curriculum."
Why Music? “The arts exist to make the seemingly ordinary extraordinary.” Music is an integral element in the lives of all people. It has a transformative power over everyone it contacts, an unparalleled ability to communicate directly with the soul and transcend reality. Music, in its capacity to achieve a sense of deep significance by going beyond the meanings made available by words to meanings only sounds can bring into being, has always been a major source of the quest for profound experience.
Music is more than an activity, a pastime, or a hobby; it is integral to the human experience. To be able to express meaning and emotion, to prompt the senses through intricately planned noises, to unite unique individuals momentarily through a shared communal endeavor, is the art of music. Through music we experience the past, communicate with the present, and inform the future about the essence of humanity. “Music…is a demonstration of the human capacity to think—to be intelligent.”
Why Music in School? “The primary aim of education is not to enable students to do well in school, but to help them do well in the lives they lead outside of school.”
A lifelong pursuit of musical experiences is valuable for everyone. It is integral, then, that music be included in school curriculum. If students do not have the opportunity to study music in schools, where or when will they? Consider the number of families that own pianos and encourage their students to take piano lessons. Valuing private musical instruction is no longer ubiquitous— it has been relegated to the affluent, educated, social elite. Without the free music education offered by public schools, society relinquishes the opportunity to musically educate all children, and services such as iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, and YouTube take the place of general music teachers, ensemble directors, and private music instructors in the music education of America’s students. When students are exposed to and trained in music in school, they are more likely to participate in music as adults. Schools can encourage students to actively participate in music ensembles where they develop music reading, performance, critical thinking, work ethic, teamwork, and social skills. Through this, students can develop a passion for music making that motivates them to actively pursue musical outlets for the rest of their lives. The American public school is responsible not only for educating citizens to develop and maintain a democratic society but also for engendering in individuals the desire to continue their education throughout their lives.
From Bryan C. Murray's "Why Music?"
ATA Choir
About Faris
MJ Faris is a passionate music educator. Their primary instrument is the saxophone, but they also dabble in piano, vocals, bass clarinet, flute, marimba, and accordion. MJ loves the sound of a beginning band playing together for the first time. Faris' philosophy is that making music is an innate attribute of humanity and that all people are capable of creating and enjoying music.
Resources
Here are some helpful links:
Some Research on Why Music Education Matters:
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